CET 12th Level Exam Pattern 2026 — 120 Questions, 240 Marks, Negative Marking Explained
Last updated: June 2026 · 8 min read
Quick Answer
CET 12th Level 2026 has 120 questions for 240 marks, with 2 marks per question and a duration of 2 hours 30 minutes. The exam is offline and OMR-based, with 5 options A, B, C, D and E for every question. Wrong answers and fully blank questions attract a 1/3 deduction, which is 0.67 marks for a 2-mark question.
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Exam Pattern at a Glance
CET 12th Level 2026 is a single combined paper with 120 questions, 240 marks and 2 marks for each question. The duration is 2 hours 30 minutes, and the exam dates are 23–25 October 2026.
The mode is offline and OMR-based. Each question has 5 options, A, B, C, D and E, where E means not attempting the question. Negative marking is 1/3 of the question marks for a wrong answer, so a wrong 2-mark question deducts 0.67 marks.
RSSB Advertisement No. 08/2026 lists 12 subjects in the combined paper, with no sub-section marks split stated. The subjects are Rajasthan History, Rajasthan Art & Culture, Geography of India, Geography of Rajasthan, Indian Political System with special reference to Rajasthan, Economy of Rajasthan, Everyday Science, Logical Reasoning & Maths, Current Affairs, Public Health, Computer Knowledge, and General Hindi & English.
The 5-Option OMR System Explained
Every question has 5 OMR circles: A, B, C, D and E. The candidate must darken exactly one circle for every question using a blue ball-point pen.
Circle E is the not-attempting option. If you do not want to attempt a question, darken E instead of leaving all 5 circles blank.
This system makes OMR discipline part of the exam strategy. You are not only choosing correct answers; you are also proving on the sheet whether each question was attempted or deliberately skipped.
Negative Marking in Full
The negative marking rule is 1/3 of the question marks for each wrong answer. Since every question carries 2 marks, one wrong answer deducts 0.67 marks.
The practical swing is larger than the deduction alone. A correct answer gives +2, while a wrong answer gives -0.67, so choosing wrong instead of correct creates a 2.67-mark swing.
The same 1/3 deduction applies if none of the 5 circles is darkened for a question, up to 10% of the total questions. To avoid this blank-circle penalty, darken E whenever you are skipping a question.
Qualifying Marks and Score Validity
The qualifying marks are 40% for General, OBC and EWS candidates, and 35% for SC and ST candidates. The SC/ST relaxation is 5%.
The CET Sr Sec 2026 score remains valid for 3 years from the date of result, as per the personnel department notification dated 16.01.2025.
CET is a screening score for eligible recruitment processes. A valid qualifying score can keep you eligible for relevant posts during the validity period, but the final recruitment process depends on the post-specific rules.
Preparation Strategy
The safest strategy is selective accuracy, not random guessing. Attempt a question only when you are at least 65% confident, because a wrong answer costs 0.67 marks against a correct +2.
Practise with CET-pattern mock tests that use 120 questions, 240 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes and 1/3 negative marking. Review each mock by separating correct answers, wrong answers, E-marked skips and fully blank questions.
Use the extra 10 minutes after solving time to verify that every question has exactly one darkened circle. More than 12 questions out of 120 with no circle darkened means more than 10% blanks and leads to disqualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions and marks are in CET 12th level 2026?
CET 12th Level 2026 has 120 questions for 240 marks. Each question carries 2 marks.
What is the time limit for CET Sr Sec 2026?
The time limit is 2 hours 30 minutes. Candidates also get an extra 10 minutes after solving time to verify that all OMR circles are darkened.
How does negative marking work in CET 12th level 2026?
A wrong answer deducts 1/3 of the question marks. Since each question is worth 2 marks, one wrong answer deducts 0.67 marks.
What happens if I leave OMR circles blank in CET 2026?
If none of the 5 circles is darkened for a question, the same 1/3 deduction as a wrong answer applies, up to 10% of questions. More than 12 such blank questions out of 120 leads to disqualification.
What are the qualifying marks for CET Sr Sec 2026?
The qualifying marks are 40% for General, OBC and EWS candidates, and 35% for SC and ST candidates.
How long is the CET Sr Sec 2026 score valid?
The CET Sr Sec 2026 score is valid for 3 years from the date of result, as per the personnel department notification dated 16.01.2025.
How to Navigate the CET 12th Level 2026 Exam Pattern and Negative Marking
Understand the 5-option OMR structure
Each question has 5 circles A, B, C, D and E. E means not attempting the question. You must darken exactly one circle per question in blue ball-point pen.
Darken E — never leave all 5 blank
If you are skipping a question, darken E. Leaving all 5 circles blank triggers the same 1/3 deduction as a wrong answer, up to 10% of total questions. Treat E as the safe skip marker.
Know the 10% DQ threshold
More than 12 blank questions out of 120 means more than 10% of the paper has no circle darkened. That leads to disqualification. This is separate from questions where you correctly darken E.
Apply selective accuracy
Attempt only when you are 65% or more confident. Do not guess randomly. With 2-mark questions, a wrong answer costs -0.67 marks against a correct +2.
Practise with negative-marking mocks
Use CET-pattern mock tests that deduct 1/3 marks for each wrong answer. Track your wrong answers, E-marked skips and fully blank questions after every mock. Keep the blank-question count safely under the disqualification threshold.
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